Barricade with reflective strips

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a reflective strip includes cutting first pieces from an elongated first reflective strip having a first color, the first reflective strip having a first width. Second pieces are cut from an elongated second reflective strip having a second color, the elongated second strip having a second width which may be equal to the first width. The first and second pieces are coupled to a substrate to form a strip of first and second color alternating portions. The substrate is applied to a cross piece of a barrier along a length of the cross piece.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/202,999 (entitled Barricade with Reflective Strips, filed Jul. 2, 2021) which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Barricades may be formed with one or more cross pieces that have alternating reflective pieces of orange and white color. Such colors may be printed on a strip of material that is then applied to the cross pieces. The printing process is not capable of printing the orange color on the strip of material in a manner that results in a highly reflective orange, such as that currently used for safety cones.

SUMMARY

A method of manufacturing a reflective strip includes cutting first pieces from an elongated first reflective strip having a first color, the first reflective strip having a width D. Second pieces are cut from an elongated second reflective strip having a second color, the elongated second strip having a first width. The first and second pieces are coupled to a substrate to form a strip of first and second color alternating portions. The substrate is applied to a cross piece of a barrier along a length of the cross piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block flow diagram illustrating a system for manufacturing a reflective strip for use on a board of a barricade according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a barrier according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further barrier according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view of a swing arm barrier according to an example embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a a reflective strip for use on a barricade board according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a block flow diagram illustrating a system 100 for manufacturing a reflective strip for use on a board of a barricade, such as a type III barricade. Such barricades generally have alternating which and yellow reflective portions supported by a board.

System 100 may utilize a first roll 110 of white reflective material. A first strip 115 is shown being pulled from the first roll 110 and being die cut via a blade 120 to form first pieces 125. The first pieces 125 are shown first in a side view, with a top view shown below each side view piece. The first strip 125 may be an elongated reflective strip that may have a width, D, of six inches in one example, The width, D, may vary as desired. The cut may be made at a 45-degree angle to create the first pieces 125 having a trapezoid shape.

A second roll 130 of orange reflective material is also utilized. A second strip 135 is shown being pulled from the second roll 130 and being die cut via a blade 140 to form second pieces 145. The second pieces 145 are shown first in a side view, with a top view shown below each side view piece. The second strip 135 may be an elongated reflective strip that may have a width, D, of six inches in one example. The width, D, may vary as desired. The cut may be made at a 45-degree angle to create the second pieces 145 having a trapezoid shape.

A third roll 150 comprises a premask tape or liner 155 to which alternating first and second pieces are attached as shown. The pieces may be laid end to end, forming the appearance of a continuous reflective strip of alternating colors. The tape or liner 155 may also have a same width, D, and may also include an adhesive or other means of coupling the pieces to the liner 155. Broken lines 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, and 160 are illustrated to show the placement of the pieces in one example. In further examples, the first and second pieces may be selected from respective piles and need not line up exactly in the order they are cut from their respective rolls.

The liner 155 is then used to couple the strip of alternating colored pieces to a board 170. The pieces may be laminated to the board in one example. Other means of coupling the pieces may be used in further examples, such as via the use of adhesive. The liner may be removed such that the reflective side of each piece is opposite the board as shown in a top view of the board with pieces at 175.

The board may have the same width D and have a length that may be varied as desired. Typical board lengths vary from 2 to 10 feet in some examples, with one example being a 6 foot board. The width, D, may typically vary as well, with common widths being 4 to 8 inches. In one example, D is 6 inches. The boards may be formed of wood, metal, or plastic, or other suitable material which can support the reflective pieces and endure environmental conditions that barriers are typically subjected to.

Note that in some examples, the various reflective materials and liners may be in a sheet form, and may be cut as desired, either before coupling to the board, or after.

The reflective materials may be in sheet form in one example, such as 3M brand DG3, also referred to as DG3 fluorescent orange 4094 and white 4090 for the respective second and first pieces.

In one example, the sheets may be die cut 45 degree (left and right) into 6 inch-wide stripes that are assembled and held together by the use of pre-mask tape and a liner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a barrier 200 according to an example embodiment. Barrier 200 includes a board 210 having alternating colored reflective pieces 215, 220 that have been applied to the board as described above to give the appearance of a continuous reflective strip with alternating colors. The board 210 is supported by two a-frame supports 225 and 230 having respective slots 235, 240 formed to support the board above the ground at each end of the board.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a type 3 barrier 300 having three generally parallel and spaced apart boards 310, 315, 320 supported by inverted “T” shaped portions 325, 330. Boards 310, 315, and 320 have alternating colored reflective pieces that have been applied to the boards as described above to give the appearance of a continuous reflective strip with alternating colors.

FIG. 4 is a view of a swing arm barrier 400 having a board 410 rotatably coupled to a support 420. Board 410 also has alternating colored reflective pieces that have been applied to the boards as described above to give the appearance of a continuous reflective strip with alternating colors.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 of manufacturing a a reflective strip for use on a barricade board according to an example embodiment. Method 500 begins at 510 by cutting first pieces from an elongated first reflective strip having a first color, the first reflective strip having a width D. Second pieces are cut at 520 from an elongated second reflective strip having a second color, the elongated second strip having a width D. At 530, the first and second pieces are coupled to a substrate or liner having a width of at least D to form first and second color alternating portions. The substrate with the pieces is then coupled or applied via lamination to a cross piece of a barrier at 540. The substrate may be removed at 550 leaving the pieces coupled to the cross piece.

In one example, the first color is white and the second color is orange. The reflective strips may be fluorescent and have trapezoid shapes that are placed end to end to form the appearance of a continuous reflective strip on the substrate despite being discrete and separate pieces.

In one example, cutting the first and second pieces comprises applying a sharp edge to the first and second strips sufficient to separate the pieces from the respective strips. A die cut machine may be used to cut the pieces. The substrate or liner may include an adhesive for coupling the first and second pieces. The first and second pieces have lengths equal to the alternating portions.

The barricade may be a type 3 barricade, a swing arm type barricade, or other type of barricade that utilizes cross pieces, such as boards.

The first elongated strips may be formed a first sheet of reflective material of the first color, and the second elongated strip may be formed from a second sheet of reflected material of the second color.

In one example, the cross piece has a width D and the first and second pieces each have a same length, L.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method of manufacturing a reflective strip, the method comprising: cutting first pieces from an elongated first reflective strip having a first color, the first reflective strip having a width D; cutting second pieces from an elongated second reflective strip having a second color, the elongated second strip having a width D; coupling the first and second pieces to a substrate to form a strip of first and second color alternating portions; and applying the substrate to a cross piece of a barrier along a length of the cross piece.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first color is white and the second color is orange.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second reflective strip is fluorescent orange
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second pieces have trapezoid shapes and form the appearance of a continuous reflective strip on the substrate.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein cutting the first and second pieces comprises applying a sharp edge to the first and second strips sufficient to separate the pieces from the respective strips.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises an adhesive for coupling the first and second pieces.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein he first and second pieces have lengths equal to the alternating portions.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the barricade comprises a type 3 barricade.
 9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: forming the first elongated strip from a first sheet of reflective material of the first color; and forming the second elongated strip from a second sheet of reflected material of the second color.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cross piece has a width D.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second pieces each have a same length, L
 12. A method of manufacturing a reflective strip, the method comprising: cutting first pieces from an elongated first reflective strip having a first color, the first reflective strip having a first width; cutting second pieces from an elongated second reflective strip having a second color, the elongated second strip having a second width; coupling the first and second pieces to a substrate to form a strip of first and second color alternating portions; and applying the substrate to a cross piece of a barrier along a length of the cross piece.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first color is white and the second color is orange.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second reflective strip is fluorescent orange.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second pieces have trapezoid shapes and form the appearance of a continuous reflective strip on the substrate.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the first width and the second width are equal.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second pieces have lengths equal to the alternating portions.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the barricade comprises a type 3 barricade.
 19. The method of claim 12 and further comprising: forming the first elongated strip from a first sheet of reflective material of the first color; and forming the second elongated strip from a second sheet of reflected material of the second color.
 20. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second pieces each have a same length, L. 